Efficacy of botulinum toxin for treating a gummy smile.

Introduction: This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of botulinum toxin applied to the different muscles of patients who have excessive gingival display and to evaluate the return to baseline gingival exposure value.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients who had a gummy smile of more than 2 mm were randomly divided into 2 groups. Botulinum toxin was administered equally to the left and right of the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle of group 1 and the orbicularis oris site of group 2.

Multiple models generate a geographical mosaic of resemblance in a Batesian mimicry complex.

Batesian mimics-benign species that receive protection from predation by resembling a dangerous species-often occur with multiple model species. Here, we examine whether geographical variation in the number of local models generates geographical variation in mimic-model resemblance. In areas with multiple models, selection might be relaxed or even favour imprecise mimicry relative to areas with only one model.

Evaluating the utility of camera traps in field studies of predation.

Artificial prey techniques-wherein synthetic replicas of real organisms are placed in natural habitats-are widely used to study predation in the field. We investigated the extent to which videography could provide additional information to such studies. As a part of studies on aposematism and mimicry of coral snakes () and their mimics, observational data from 109 artificial snake prey were collected from video-recording camera traps in three locations in the Americas ( forest, Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador; premontane wet forest, Nahá Reserve, Mexico; longleaf pine forest, Southeastern Coastal Plain, North Carolina, USA).

Age- and sex-dependent alteration of functions and epigenetic modifications of vessel and endothelium related biomarkers.

Aging is a main risk factor for development of cardiovascular diseases associated with the impairment of endothelial function in both sexes. In the present study, age-related changes in vascular responsiveness, epigenetic modifications of vessel wall, and blood biomarkers related to endothelial functions were examined in an age- and sex-dependent manner. Acetylcholine (ACh)-induced relaxations of the aorta were decreased in 3-, 6-, and 12-month-old rats compared to those in 1-month-old female rats.

An Alternative to Adaptation by Sexual Selection: Habitat Choice.

Adaptation in mating signals and preferences has generally been explained by sexual selection. We propose that adaptation in such mating traits might also arise via a non-mutually exclusive process wherein individuals preferentially disperse to habitats where they experience high mating performance. Here we explore the evolutionary implications of this process.

Is the future already here? The impact of climate change on the distribution of the eastern coral snake ().

Anthropogenic climate change is a significant global driver of species distribution change. Although many species have undergone range expansion at their poleward limits, data on several taxonomic groups are still lacking. A common method for studying range shifts is using species distribution models to evaluate current, and predict future, distributions.

Comment on Van Belleghem et al. 2016: Habitat choice mechanisms in speciation and other forms of diversification.

Several mechanisms of habitat choice can contribute to speciation. Empirical studies of habitat choice mechanisms provide important insights into the relative roles of these mechanisms in speciation. A recent paper by Van Belleghem and colleagues characterizes the mechanistic basis of a component of habitat choice-departure behavior-in two salt marsh beetle ecotypes that inhabit different environments.

Geographic variation in mimetic precision among different species of coral snake mimics.

Batesian mimicry is widespread, but whether and why different species of mimics vary geographically in resemblance to their model is unclear. We characterized geographic variation in mimetic precision among four Batesian mimics of coral snakes. Each mimic occurs where its model is abundant (i.

Investigation of interleukin-12, interleukin-17 and interleukin-23 receptor gene polymorphisms in alopecia areata.

Objective: To investigate the distribution of interleukin (IL)-12 (IL12; 1188A/C), IL17 (A7488G) and IL-23 receptor (IL23R; +2199A/C) gene polymorphisms in patients with alopecia areata.

Methods: Patients with alopecia areata and healthy controls were enrolled in this case-control study. Genotyping of the IL12 (1188A/C), IL17 (A7488G) and IL23R (+2199A/C) polymorphisms was undertaken.

Batesian mimicry promotes pre- and postmating isolation in a snake mimicry complex.

We evaluated whether Batesian mimicry promotes early-stage reproductive isolation. Many Batesian mimics occur not only in sympatry with their model (as expected), but also in allopatry. As a consequence of local adaptation within both sympatry (where mimetic traits are favored) and allopatry (where nonmimetic traits are favored), divergent, predator-mediated natural selection should disfavor immigrants between these selective environments as well as any between-environment hybrids.

Serum concentrations of interleukin-2 and tumour necrosis factor-α under cyclosporine versus acitretin treatment in plaque-type psoriasis.

Objective: A prospective, randomized clinical study to compare the short-term effects of cyclosporin and acitretin on psoriasis severity, and serum interleukin (IL)-2 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentrations.

Methods: Patients with moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis were randomly assigned to receive either 3 mg/kg per day cyclosporine or 0.3-0.

Rapid evolution of mimicry following local model extinction.

Batesian mimicry evolves when individuals of a palatable species gain the selective advantage of reduced predation because they resemble a toxic species that predators avoid. Here, we evaluated whether-and in which direction-Batesian mimicry has evolved in a natural population of mimics following extirpation of their model. We specifically asked whether the precision of coral snake mimicry has evolved among kingsnakes from a region where coral snakes recently (1960) went locally extinct.

Role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of vitiligo with special emphasis on the antioxidant action of narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of vitiligo and the effect of narrowband (NB) ultraviolet (UV) B phototherapy on oxidative stress markers.

Methods: Patients with vitiligo and healthy control subjects were included in the study. Patients in the vitiligo group were treated with an NB-UVB regimen (3 × weekly for 6 months).

Clinical and laboratory parameters associated with metabolic syndrome in Turkish patients with psoriasis.

Objectives: To assess clinical and laboratory parameters associated with metabolic syndrome in Turkish patients with moderate or severe plaque-type psoriasis and nonpsoriatic controls.

Methods: Patients with moderate or severe plaque psoriasis (patient group) or with nonpsoriatic dermatological disease (controls) were included. Waist circumference, weight, height and arterial blood pressure were measured, together with fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL), fibrinogen, homocysteine and adiponectin levels.

Association of serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region and variable number of tandem repeat polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene in lichen simplex chronicus patients with psychiatric status.

Background: The serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) is a key neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and a responsible mediator for the itch. Dysregulation of serotonergic pathways has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many complex neuropsychiatric diseases.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between lichen simplex chronicus and dysfunction and serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene polymorphism.

A case of Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome involving only upper limbs.

The case of a 14-year-old girl suffering from Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome associated with multiple port-wine stain type vascular anomalies and varicose veins involving upper limbs is described. Finger deformations are common in Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. In our patient, striking hypertrophy of soft tissues and overgrowth of bones were observed on both forearms and finger deformations were observed particularly on right thumb and index finger.

The risk of hepatotoxicity during long-term and low-dose flutamide treatment in hirsutism.

Objective: Flutamide is an effective drug in treatment of hirsutism. Hepatotoxicity occasionally may occur with therapeutic doses (750-1500 mg/day), 3 months after initiation of treatment. Monitoring of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels is recommended to obviate serious hepatotoxicity.

Low-dose and short-term cyclosporine treatment in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria: a clinical and immunological evaluation.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of 2.5 mg/kg/day cyclosporin (CsA) treatment in patients with severe chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) and the impact of CsA treatment on several cytokines involved in the etiopathogenesis of CIU. Twenty-seven CIU patients and 24 healthy control subjects were included in the study.

Association of insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene with angio-oedema accompanying chronic urticaria but not chronic urticaria without angio-oedema or the autologous serum skin test response.

Background: Chronic urticaria is defined as the daily or almost daily occurrence of weals for more than 6 weeks. The underlying pathophysiology is reported to be mast cell activation, with release of mast cell mediators, predominantly histamine. Substance P is a neuropeptide and has the capacity to provoke histamine release from skin mast cells.